The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1887-04-01
The Farm.
Individuality In Fruit.
@omm unicated.

This is a very interesting study to
any one who may turn attention that
way, to be able at any time to mention
the name of a specimen we may once
have met. In its application it requires
the use of many of our senses, its color,
form, size, weight, flavor, quality, size
of blossom cavity, length and thickness
of stem and some other peculiarties are
nearly constant in the same variety,
but vary muct or are modified by the
condition Of the tree upon which they
happen to grow. Specimens of
"Smiths Cider,' taken from three diff
ferent boughs of the same tree, differ
SO in appearance, that stranger would
not recognize them as the same sort.
and their quality varies nearly as much.
Specimens from young and old trees
are not always alike. While any tree
is making very rapid growth it does
not produce perfect fruit, or but few
smooth specimens, and many knarled
saes.
That from young trees ripens sooner
and does not consequently keep as we'll
SO We need not always reject variety
and say it will not keep when we have
only tried the advance product of tree
or graft. Manure and cultivation also
make vast difference and there is
something due to the inherent character
of the soil, and also to It's being well
drained, naturally. say naturally, be.
cause no amount of tile will make ont
Of our swamps fit for apples.
There have been but very few in ou,
country who have given enough time t.
the study fruits, tohave been recogni zec!
as standard authority on the suhjec
OF these it has been my pleasure
meet three whose genealogical writings
have made them known, and who's.
books will remain among the standard
agricultural literature Of our time.
Chas. Downing was aspecialist among
fruit, and has left the results of his la
bors in his Fruits and Fruit Trees Of
America" work commenced by hi.
brother A j. Downing, which has
passed through several editions, and t.
which he was adding up to the time OF
his death. Some manuscript letters t.
the writer in his own hand I desire t.
preserve as mementoes.
john A. Warder and John J Thorn
as | also had the satisfaction of knowing
at several meetings of the American
Pathological Society of which all three
were active members. The late honored
Prest. of that Society, Marshall 2. Will.
der, WIS perhaps the greatest enthusiast
on this subject and his labors extended
to the whole list of fruit. He spent hi,
leisure and f. rtune in improving all
and encouraging the production of new
varieties. 1t was said of him that he
had fruit of his own production on his
table every day in the year. He used
to sometimes show 25O varieties of
pears, at the time of the societies meet,
ings, all grown on his own grounds at
Boston. He was just in his element
when he had the lovers of his art from
all parts of the u S and Canada about
him. A visit to Boston, with such
party, where he had opened every door
for our welcome, and provided some
entertainments in princely style, will
ever be remembered by many of us.
The results of such meetings could
not help stirring up an enthusiasm in
the participants and may be pardoned
if l say that the opportunity of thus
seeing the fruits of every state on
tables side by side, helped to convince
me that there is none, in every way
better than our own. That from Cali
fernia, may be larger. but coarser grain
ed. Our Baldwins and Greetings are
larger better colored and finer favored
than the same grown in New England
The largest seckel pears ever saw
were grown in Norfolk, Va. On the
sam tables, at this exhibition in BALTIC
we're some of the largest apples, a spleu-
did collection of them, from Asheville,
NC.
Whatever else may be lacking in
the quality Of fruit, one test is its aceight.
Tho>e that have this, with ordinarily
good texture, appearance and cooking
gusiries Will always sell, Our best
cooking fruit are all heavy. and it is
these that are most valuable for the
dryer There is an actual d ference
by the scale of 20 lbs. in the weight per
kfl If snma annlas that rinan Of tba